The government is ready to set up a mineral processing plant in Joypurhat to increase use of minerals in industries commercially, especially to boost glass industry. The project has been approved at a recent meeting of Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC). Accor-ding to the Planning Commission, the project cost will be nearly Tk 73 crore. Sources said under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Bangla-desh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) will set up the plant at Institute of Mining Minerals and Materials (IMMM) lab at Joypurhat.
The plant will be sorted by the modern and high-tech equipment for increasing mineral sand processing facility. The project will be implemented in the period from July 2016 to June 2019. The Brahmaputra river raises hope for the supply of raw materials. There is a huge quantity of precious mineral present in the river, according to the scientist-researchers.
Mineral sand particles of the river and mineral processing have great potential economically. It is expected that the Padma, Meghna, Tista, Dharla and Someshwari have also valuable mineral resources. Naturally, every year 21 million tonnes of sand on the shore of Cox's Bazar and 5 million tonnes of heavy mineral particles are deposited at river basin of Bhramaputra.
Researchers confirmed that, Brahmaputra's sediments have huge quantity of precious mineral like quartz, ilmenite, rutile, zircon and monazite. Researchers also said the use of the collected mineral particles of those sources could bring revolutionary change in glass industry. And using the other mineral commercially like colors and ceramics can reduce import of raw material of electronic industry. At least 50 million tonnes of mineral sand can be collected from the rivers each year and initially at least Tk 800 crore can be earned from this source, according to experts.
Meanwhile, Bang-ladesh Atomic Energy Commission sources have said mineral particles are used in different sectors including manufacturing silicon chips of solar panel besides the glass industry. ilmenite, rutile and zircon are used in paint, paper and ceramic industries. ilmenite and rutile are also used as the source of titanium used in manufacturing aero-planes. Garnet is used to glitter the gems and glass or iron goods. Monazite is used as the raw materials of different electrical and electronic goods. If the use and export of these minerals are ensured, Bangladesh will go ahead in the field of industrial research.
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